Portable power plane



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1956 INVENTOR.

wmus' F'- GARLAND 7/z /z pmrbm ATTQQNEY$ July 14, 1959 Filed June 15,1956 w. F. GARLAND 2,894,549

PORTABLE POWER PLANE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 0 r 0 0 FT INVENTOR.

WILL-l5 F. GARLAND AT T 2 N EYE July 14, 1959 w. F. GARLAND 2,894,549

PORTABLE POWER PLANE Filed June 15,1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

wmus PI GARLAND ATTQRN EYS United States Patent PORTABLE POWER PLANEWillis F. Garland, Sanbomville, N.H.

Application June 15, 1956, Serial No. 591,643 2 Claims. (Cl. 145-4) Thepresent invention relates to a portable power plane.

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable power planewhich lends itself to rapid and eflicient planing of woodwork pieces,one which leaves no planing marks on the workpiece, and one which may beeasily guided on the workpiece and having no tendency to creep laterallyof the workpiece.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable powerplane which is light in weight and easily portable, one which is sturdyin construction and fabricated of few parts, easily manufactured bycasting and machining, and one which is economically feasible.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will befully apparent from the following description when taken in connectionwith the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the portable power plane of thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevational side View, partly in section, with thehousing side pipes removed; and

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the power plane of the presentinvention.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing'in which like numeralsindicated like parts throughout the several views, the portable powerplane of the present invention comprises a base having upstandingflanges 11 and 12 at its ends and a pair of slots 13 and 14 arranged inparallel spaced relation transversely of the base 10 and inwardly of theflanges 11 and 12, respectively.

A transversely disposed tunnel member 15 bridges the slot 13 and isconnected in communication thereto, and another tunnel member 16 issimilarly positioned with respect to the slot 14.

A planar assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 17, andconsisting of an upstanding housing 18 having an open bottom and spacedsides 19 and 21 is positioned so that the side 19 bears against theflange 11 and the side 21 bears against the flange 12.

The housing 18 is closed on its one end by an upper plate 22 and a lowerplate 23, and on its other end by an upper plate 24 and a lower plate25. Bearing assemblies 26 are supported centrally of the upper plates 22and 24 and receive the ends of a shaft 27 which is the drive shaft of anelectric motor 28. A sprocket wheel 29 is carried upon one end of theshaft 27 and forms a driving means for the chain 31 which is drivablyengaged with other sprocket wheels 32 and 33 upon the shafts 34 and 35,respectively, of a pair of horizontally disposed rotatable cutters 36and 37, respectively, which extend transversely across the bottom of thehousing 18 within the tunnel members 15 and 16, respectively.

Spiral blades 38 and 39 are carried on the peripheral portions of thecutters 36 and 37, respectively, and project through the adjacent slots13 and 14, respectively.

Means is provided carried by each of the flanges 11 and 12 and engagingwith means formed on the housing sides 19 and 21 for adjusting thehousing 18 relative to the base 10 to thereby regulate the depth of cutof the cutter blades 38 and 39. Specifically, the means carried by theflanges 11 and 12 embodies a'fastening element 41, specifically a bolt,supported in slots provided in each of the flanges 11 and 12 for limitedup and down movement and detachably secured in means, specificallytapped holes, formed in the adjacent housing side 19 or 21.

The spiral blades 38 and 39 are formed so that their spiral shapes curvein opposite directions in order that no planing marks will be left uponthe work piece as it is planed, the planingmarks left by the first bladebeing obliterated by the second blade.

Positioning pins 42 project upwardly from the base 10 into holesprovided in the housing 18 and springs 43 bias the base 10 away from thehousing 18 for easy and ready adjustment of the height of the housingrelative to the base, which determines the depth of cut of the blades 38and 39 into the work piece.

Bearing assemblies 44 are provided for the ends of the shafts 34 and 35where they project into the lower plates 24 and 25. The latter are cutaway as at 45 to provide an exhaust port for the shavings and chips ofwood removed from the work piece by the cutter blades 38 and 39.

A pistol grip-type of handle 48 is provided on one end of the housing 18and a ball-type of hand grip is provided on the other end of the housing18 as at 49.

In use, the portable power planer of the present invention may be usedto finish the surfaces of work pieces and the two cutters with theiroppositely spiraled blades produce a smooth finish without planing marksand requiring little or no sanding in a finishing operation. The planeris easily portable and is readily adjusted for the depth of cut desiredand according to the degree of hardness of the work piece to befinished.

What is claimed is:

l. A portable power plane comprising a base having an upstanding flangeat each end thereof, there being a slot extending transversely thereofintermediate said flanges, a transversely disposed tunnel memberbridging said slot and connected in communication therewith, a planerassembly including an upstanding housing having a bottom and spacedsides, and a horizontally disposed rotatable cutter extendingtransversely across the bottom of said housing within said tunnel memberand spaced from the sides of said housing positioned so that the cutterhas a peripheral portion projecting through said slot with said sidesbearing against said flanges, a horizontally disposed drive shaft insaid planer assembly and rotatably supported in the sides of saidhousing, a sprocket wheel carried by said drive shaft, another sprocketwheel carried by said cutter, a chain drivably engaged with saidsprocket wheels, and means carried by each of said flanges and engagingwith means formed in the housing sides for adjusting said housingrelative to said base to thereby regulate the depth of cut of saidcutter.

2. A portable power plane comprising a base having an upstanding flangeat each end thereof, there being a pair of slots arranged in parallelspaced relation transversely of said base inwardly of said flanges, atransversely disposed tunnel member bridging each of said slots andconnected in communication therewith, a planer assembly including anupstanding housing having a bottom and spaced sides, and a horizontallydisposed rotatable cutter extending transversely across the bottom ofsaid housing within each of said tunnel members and spaced from thesides of. said housing positioned so that 4 the cutter has a peripheralportion projecting through the adjacent one of said slots with saidsides bearing against said flanges, a horizontally disposed drive shaftin said planer assembly androtatably supported in the sides of saidhousing, a sprocket wheel carried by said drive shaft, a sprocket wheelcarried by each of said cutters, a chain drivably engaged with saidsprocket wheels, and means carried by each of said flanges and engagingwith means formed in the housing sides for adjusting said housingrelative to said baseto thereby regulate the depth of cut of saidcutter.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Raettig July 14, 1903 Beggs Oct. 21, 1919 EganMar. 7, 1933 Ward Oct. 19, 1948 Bibby et a1. Mar. 6, 1951 Posey Mar. 20,1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Mar. 21, 1922

